Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to applying the freedom of goods rules in the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 to Northern Ireland in full.

The UK Government is unequivocal in its commitment for unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods moving to the rest of the UK market. The UK Internal Market Act 2020 put in place significant and robust protections for this regime for the long-term, prohibiting checks and controls on qualifying Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain, and enabling these goods to be placed on the GB market without additional requirements.

We have always recognised that there are some additional processes on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. In line with our pragmatic and proportionate approach, we have, and will, continue to give these effects in a way which takes full account of all flexibilities and discretion, maintaining the effective flow of goods on which lives and livelihoods rely.